Teams Begin Quests for Titles

The state volleyball tournament returns this week to Lakeland, with 24 teams converging on The Lakeland Center today through Saturday.

No teams from Polk County advanced to the state semifinals in any class for the 11th consecutive season. Lake Gibson was the last Polk team to make it to the state semis in 1997.

Only two defending champions made it to the finals this year.

In Class 5A, Tampa Plant (27-3) is back to defend its title and will open against Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (24-5) at 6 p.m. Friday. Plant won last season's championship against Leon (28-2), which also is back this year and will face Winter Park Lake Howell (25-5) at 8 p.m.

Lake Highland Prep (23-7), the defending 3A champion, faces Jacksonville Bolles (21-10) at 2 p.m. Friday. In the other 3A semifinal, Tampa Berkeley Prep (27-2) will play Miami Florida Christian (28-2) at 4 p.m.

The other class that will have it semifinals on Friday is Class 1A. The first match will feature South Daytona Warner Christian (23-1) and Merritt Island Christian (24-6) at 10 a.m., with Bradenton Christian (23-7) and Lake Worth Christian (26-4) to follow at noon.

Classes 6A, 4A and 2A start today.

In 6A, Royal Palm Beach (25-4) and Miami Palmetto (27-2) will play at noon, and Orlando Timber Creek (29-2) will face Clearwater Countryside (29-0) at 8 p.m.

Jacksonville Bishop Kenny (22-8) and Ponte Vedra Beach Nease (28-2) will open the 4A semifinals at 10 a.m., and Arcadia DeSoto (25-4) will face Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (28-3) at 2 p.m.

In Class 2A, Tallahassee Maclay (16-14) and Orlando First Academy (26-4) will play at 4 p.m., followed by Tampa Prep (15-13) and Miami Palmer Trinity at 6 p.m.

Admission is $8 per session, and parking at The Lakeland Center will cost $7 per day.